Which Process Should Cut Your PMMA Part

Four routes compete for acrylic work. This selector ranks them for your part and says plainly when the answer is not CNC milling — because a supplier who never says that is not worth trusting on the cases where it is.

1. Section thickness Thin sheet, up to about 6 mm 6 mm to 12 mm Above 12 mm, or solid block

2. Geometry Two-dimensional outline only — a profile with holes Pockets, bores, threads, counterbores or compound angles

3. Edge requirement Edge is visible or optical Edge is hidden, bonded or post-finished

4. Thermal sensitivity Part will be solvent bonded or loaded — residual stress is a risk No bonding, no sustained load

5. Quantity and design stability One-off, prototype or low run Repeat batches, design still moving High recurring volume on a frozen design

Send the drawing and we will confirm the route, including when it is not us

Ranking reflects process capability against the answers you gave. Cost is deliberately excluded: published crossover quantities between machining and moulding come from studies of specific tooling routes and geometries, and none of them transfers cleanly to another part.